Apple iPhone XS is a discontinued 2018 flagship that still appeals to users who want a compact iPhone with premium hardware.
This article takes a practical 2026 value angle, while the detailed full specifications are provided in the separate specs table.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology: | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 2G bands: | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| CDMA 800 / 1900 | |
| 3G bands: | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| 4G bands: | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 – A2097 |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 – A1920, A2100 | |
| Speed: | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced: | 2018, September 12. Released 2018, September 21 |
| Status: | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions: | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight: | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| Build: | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame |
| SIM: | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
Display
| Type: | Super Retina OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM) |
| Size: | 5.8 inches, 84.4 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution: | 1125 x 2436 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Protection: | Scratch-resistant glass |
| 3D Touch |
Platform
| OS: | iOS 12, upgradable to iOS 18.6 |
| Chipset: | Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm) |
| CPU: | Hexa-core (2×2.5 GHz Vortex + 4×1.6 GHz Tempest) |
| GPU: | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
Memory
| Card slot: | No |
| Internal: | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM |
| NVMe |
Main Camera
| Dual: | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features: | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Video: | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
Selfie camera
| Single: | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Features: | HDR |
| Video: | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
Sound
| Loudspeaker: | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack: | No |
Comms
| WLAN: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Bluetooth: | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning: | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| NFC: | Yes |
| Radio: | No |
| USB: | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
Features
| Sensors: | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Battery
| Type: | Li-Ion 2658 mAh, non-removable (10.13 Wh) |
| Charging: | 15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi) |
Misc
| Colors: | Space Gray, Silver, Gold |
| Models: | A2097, A1920, A2100, A2098, iPhone11,2 |
| SAR: | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU: | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Price: | About 190 EUR |
Our Tests
| Performance: | AnTuTu: 346379 (v7) GeekBench: 11472 (v4.4) GFXBench: 47fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display: | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 5.171 (sunlight) |
| Camera: | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker: | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 78dB |
| Audio quality: | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -82.8dB |
| Battery (old): | Endurance rating 72h |
Price and Availability
The Apple iPhone XS offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €190, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Apple iPhone XS converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of April 3, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $219
- Japan: ¥34,946
- United Kingdom: £166
- Australia: A$318
- Canada: C$305
- Taiwan: NT$7,003
- Denmark: kr1.418
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼821
- South Korea: ₩331,169
- Germany: €190
- Brazil: R$1.130
- Vietnam: ₫5.758.651
- Kenya: KSh 28,519
- India: ₹20,380
- Indonesia: Rp 3.720.988
- Nigeria: ₦302,724
- Pakistan: ₨61,129
- Philippines: ₱13,241
- Bangladesh: ৳২৬,৮৬৫
Value in 2026
At about 190 EUR, the iPhone XS is best viewed as an affordable entry to Apple’s premium design era rather than a modern spec monster. It offers strong everyday quality if your priorities are size, display, and camera reliability.
Design and Build
The stainless steel frame, glass front and back, and IP68 protection still feel high-end in hand. Its 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm body and 177 g weight make it easier to handle than many newer large-screen phones.
Display Experience
The 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED panel delivers sharp 1125 x 2436 resolution, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support, with good perceived contrast and detail. It remains a strong screen for media and daily use at this size class.
Performance and Daily Speed
Apple’s A12 Bionic with 4 GB RAM still handles messaging, browsing, social apps, and routine multitasking smoothly. Benchmark results from the source tests show the hardware is aging but still competent for non-heavy workloads.
Camera Strengths and Limits
The dual 12 MP setup adds real versatility with wide plus 2x telephoto, both stabilized, and reliable 4K up to 60 fps recording. It is still solid for daylight and casual video, but newer phones typically pull ahead in advanced low-light processing.
Battery and Charging Reality
The 2658 mAh battery is the main age point, especially for heavy users. You still get practical charging options with 15W wired PD support, 50% in 30 minutes, and Qi wireless charging.
Software and Longevity
A major strength is software path: launched on iOS 12 and upgradable to iOS 18.6. For buyers choosing an older iPhone, this keeps app compatibility and security relevance stronger than many similarly priced legacy devices.
Connectivity and Network Flexibility
iPhone XS supports broad global LTE bands (model-dependent), plus Nano-SIM and eSIM, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and precise multi-system positioning. The key limitation for long-term network planning is that it is LTE-only, with no 5G support.
Who Should Buy the iPhone XS?
This phone suits users who want a compact, premium-feeling iPhone for daily essentials, Apple Pay, and dependable photo/video basics on a tighter budget. If you need longer battery stamina or newer connectivity standards, a newer model is the safer pick.
Conclusion
Apple iPhone XS remains a smart buy for compact iPhone fans who value display quality, premium build, and iOS longevity, as long as LTE-only networking and moderate battery life match your expectations.
